Reward the tough votes

Key races will set the tone for more reform

The Illinois State Capitol building glows under the setting sun in Springfield, on Nov. 7, 2013. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

"Better a lie that soothes than a truth that hurts." — Czech proverb

Springfield operates under an unwritten code. Don't rock the boat. Don't make too much noise. Don't jeopardize a nice, long, cozy career with one unpopular vote. Better to paper over the hard truth than to face it.

Late last year, many lawmakers made an exceedingly difficult vote. They voted to save this state and its pension funds from financial ruin.

They agreed to curb the growth in public employee pension benefits. In doing so, they saved taxpayers an estimated $145 billion and put the pension funds on firmer footing.

A number of those legislators face challenges from candidates who want to tell voters the lie that soothes. In this case, it's the fiction that pension benefits could just keep soaring and everything would be fine. We just needed to find more and more and more money.

Here's the danger in the March 18 primary election. If several lawmakers lose because they took a tough vote, fewer lawmakers will be willing to make the next tough vote.

There's unfinished pension reform to do. The city of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools system face financial disasters soon because of soaring pension costs. Election defeats on March 18 could doom the prospects for Chicago pension reform this year.

The Tribune has endorsed candidates for the Illinois House and Senate. Today, we highlight a handful of races that could have serious implications for future reforms.

Yet public employee unions are bankrolling candidates who would fight the reforms that have to be made. "Better a lie that soothes …"

State Rep. Christian Mitchell represents the 26th District, which stretches from Chicago's Gold Coast to the South Side. He voted for the pension reform law — not because he's uncaring or flippant about the retirement income of public employees but because he wants to protect his community. He didn't create the underfunding problem. He's been in Springfield less than two years. He understands that every dollar sent to chase soaring pension costs is a dollar that's not available for public education, public health care, public safety. The state has been squeezing those services to make pension payments.

Public employee unions are shoveling money into his opponent's campaign and spreading misinformation about Mitchell.

In the suburbs, state Reps. Ed Sullivan of Mundelein and Ron Sandack of Downers Grove face tough challenges. In part, those challenges were prompted by votes Sullivan and Sandack cast for same-sex marriage. But they also both voted for the pension reform law and their opponents say they would have voted against the law. Sullivan and Sandack deserve voters' support.

Voters who want to reward fiscal discipline don't have to play defense in every race. In the 48th District, they'll find state Rep. Sandra Pihos of Glen Ellyn, who voted against the pension law. She's being challenged by attorney Peter Breen of Lombard. He supports that law. His election would be a strong statement in favor of spending discipline.

There are only a handful of challenges in this primary for seats in the House and Senate, but several of them are taking on outsized importance. Voters, if you're in one of those districts, reward courage. Don't settle for the lie that soothes.